Mary Tudor, or Mary I of England, was a fascinating woman. As the daughter of Henry VIII, she saw much in her relatively short life. Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, gave birth to the Princess Mary on February 18, 1516; she was heir to the throne of England. However, Mary was declared illegitimate when Henry divorced her mother in 1532 to marry Anne Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth I. She watched her father treat her mother as a whore, make a mockery of her beloved church, and virtually slap her and her mother in the face for all of England to see.Mary is remembered for the hundreds of Protestants she murdered in the name of Catholicism. This is how she got her nickname "Bloody Mary." Many believe that the Bloody Mary drink is named for her. (http://www.bestbloodymary.com/history.php)
It is also said that, "When a bartender at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, mixed equal parts tomato juice and vodka, he had no idea his concoction would become world famous. According to the bartender, "one of the boys suggested we call the drink 'Bloody Mary' because it reminded him of the Bucket of Blood Club in Chicago, and a girl there named Mary."
In 1934, when the bartender made his way to the Unites States and to the King Cole Bar at the St.Regis in New York, he brought the recipe with him. The hotel tried to change the name to Red Snapper, but it didn't stick. Sophisticated New Yorkers felt the drink was too bland and requested more spice. The recipe then evolved to include black pepper, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, and a generous splash of Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce for patrons who liked it even more spirited. Thus, an American classic was born." (http://www.tabasco.com/tabasco_tent/drink_mix/bloody_mary_history.cfm)
I, however, had my first taste of this heaven in a glass in where else, Las Vegas, and since then, I can't get enough! Prescribed by some as the hangover cure, I just view it as a good time in a glass. Refreshing, tasty and healthy! If you have never tried one, go ahead, what are you waiting for. The possibilities are endless....of course you have to have all the proper ingerdients, a good quality tomato juice mix, good vodka, the proper seasonings, ice and of course, the proper garnishes. Here's my own recipe, followed by some delectible variations.... 
Mine
3oz Spicy V8
3oz Olive Juice
2oz Lime Juice
2oz Absolute Vodka
splash of worsteshire sauce
2 pinches mary seasoning(salt, pepper, celery seed)
Ice
Shake in cocktail shaker
Rim glass with lime juice and Grippos BBQ chip seasoning
Garnish with celery stalk, lime wedge and as many olives as you can fit in the glass
The Caesar
3 oz Tomato Juice
3 oz of Clam Juice
2 tsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 oz. pepper Vodka
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Fill glass with ice and add all ingredients and stir.
Bakon Mary
• 1½ oz. Bakon Vodka in a pint glass filled with ice.
• Fill glass with tomato juice
• 1 dash each of celery salt and ground black pepper
• 2-4 dashes each of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco
• 1/8 tsp. horseradish
Shake and pour into a salt rimmed pint glass. Garnish with a celery stalk and your
favorite pickled vegetables.
The BLT Bloody Mary Martini
(Winning recipe from the "Palm Springs Cocktail Challenge")
Ingredients:
• 3 parts Bakon Vodka
• 1 part Tomato Juice
• Layer with seasoned "Tomato Foam"
(Strained Tomato Juice, White Pepper, White Worcestershire, Sea Salt, Olive Oil and Lecithin)
Garnish:
• Crushed Seasoned Croutons
• Romaine Spear & Cherry Tomato
Instructions:
Tomato Foam: Chop 2-3 large tomatoes and strain through a sieve or cheesecloth. Add the pepper, Worcestershire, salt and oil to taste. Can be made several days ahead and kept chilled. Just before service add 2-3 teaspoons of lecithin (a soy based thickening agent) and process in a blender or food processor. The foam will rise to the top and the lecithin will help it hold together.
In a shaker, combine 3 parts Bakon Vodka to one part plain tomato juice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Spoon on a thick layer of the tomato foam as a float. Sprinkle crushed seasoned croutons on top of the foam. Pick a small romaine spear from the heart of the bunch and skewer it with two small cherry tomatoes. Rest the skewer on the rim of the glass and serve.
Bloody Gump
22 ounces reduced-sodium V8
1 teaspoon horseradish
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 dashes Tabasco
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3 ounces vodka
Ice cubes
4 cooked shrimp
1.Shake V8, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Tabasco, pepper and vodka, if using, in a large glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Fill two tall glasses with ice and divide the Bloody Mary between the glasses. Garnish each drink with 2 shrimp.
The best part of the Bloody Mary is creating your own masterpiece...mix and match ingredients and garnishes...check out local places that offer Bloody Mary Bars (locally, try Sunday Brunches at Cock & Bull and Keystone Bar & Grill)
So, this Sunday morning, whether you're hung over or just need a pick me up, give one a try.
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